Treat yourself in indulgent hotel accommodation on all 6 nights of your holiday.

This Chipping Campden to Painswick walking holiday covers the northern section of the Cotswolds, walking 5 days on the western edge of the Cotswold hills with breathtaking views as the route travels through the beautiful hamlets of the Cotswolds.

This Chipping Campden to Painswick walking holiday walk starts at the Town Hall in the centre of Chipping Campden, one of the most charming of all the picturesque settlements along the trail. The route climbs gradually up to Dover’s Hill (230m/755ft) with views over the Vale of Evesham before continuing on to Broadway Tower, the second highest point along the trail at 312m (1025ft). After dropping down into the delightful village of Broadway, the trail climbs back up to Shenberrow Hill before descending into the idyllic village of Stanton.

Stanton to Cleeve Hill

From Stanton the path leads across meadows to the hamlet of Church Stanway. The Chipping Campden to Painswick walking holiday route then begins its ascent back to the top of the escarpment at Stumps Cross from where it follows an ancient drove road for a while before reaching an Iron Age Hill Fort at Beckbury Camp. The path then descends to Winchcombe where the route skirts the edge of Cleeve Common – the highest point of the trail at 330m (1083ft). In bad weather, or for people with less time, a short-cut can be taken over the Common, cutting about 4 miles off the Chipping Campden to Painswick walking holiday route.

Cleeve Hill to Painswick

This section follows the western edge of the escarpment with fine views down to Cheltenham and across the Vale of Gloucester. From an Iron Age Hill Fort, the path drops down to Dowdeswell reservoir then follows the scarp to Severn Springs, Leckhampton Hill leading eventually to Crickley Hill. From Crickley Hill the Chipping Campden to Painswick walking holiday path traverses the combe through woods before arriving at Cooper’s Hill and more panoramic views. Further woodland walking above Prinknash Abbey brings you to Painswick Beacon. From here it’s a steady descent to the lovely old market town, completing your Chipping Campden to Painswick walking holiday.

Grade This is another relatively easy National Trail which is clearly way-marked along the length of the path. A good route for people wanting to do their first long-distance walk.

Terrain Varied - but these are gentle wolds and not mountainous areas. The path rises up and down onto the Cotswold Escarpment in the northern section, however, it is lower whilst still undulating over farmland and through woods towards the south.

What’s it like underfoot? Pretty good. Well maintained paths throughout, although sections can get a bit muddy in wet weather.

How much up and down? This trail is rolling and it does go up and down a lot, with some short steeper sections, but they don’t go on forever – the highest point is 330m (1083ft). Ascents and descents are usually 150 – 200m (495- 660ft)

Signposting Generally good.

Navigation Pretty straightforward. Well defined paths, and good signposting.

Accommodation We’ll select your accommodation from a specially curated collection of hotels, farmhouses, country houses, and coaching inns along each of our routes. When selecting accommodation our focus is a helpful, friendly host with good quality accommodation and superb facilities. All of our accommodation has been carefully chosen so that you can unwind after a long day’s walking and enjoy unique architectural features, quirks and interiors, whilst also experiencing a superb level of comfort and service.

Breakfast To make sure that you put your best foot forward after a good night’s sleep you can get your day started with either a Full English breakfast or a Continental breakfast.

Luggage transfer We’ll also transfer your luggage between each overnight stop. All you need to do is leave your bag at your accommodation when you set off in the morning, and it will be moved to your next overnight stop for when you arrive later that day. All you’ll need is a small day sack with any clothes and provisions that you’ll need during your day’s walk

Personal itinerary An itinerary setting out the relevant information for each overnight stop, including large scale maps for each location and details of where we’d recommend you head for your evening meal.

Emergency support We are always on hand to help if you experience any difficulties during your holiday, including outside of normal office hours.

15% discount at Cotswold Outdoors As a little thank you from us you will get a 15% discount at all Cotswold Outdoor stores – online and high street – for twelve months following confirmation of your booking.

Options:

Off road parking If you are travelling to your start location by car just let us know and we will see what we can do to organise parking for the duration of your trip. There may be a small charge for this.

Return transport We can also arrange transfer back to your car – it’s no problem, just ask – and we’ll even advise you when public transport is a better option!

What’s not Included:

Evening meal Your evening meal isn’t included in your walking holiday package, however your itinerary will include details of the best local eateries along your route – it could be a pub, a restaurant or even the accommodation that you’re staying in – so you’ll be able to relax and refuel after a good day’s walking. We always do our best to pick somewhere within walking distance of your accommodation, and you should allow approximately £20.00 per night for your evening meal.

Packed lunch We don’t include a packed lunch as part of your walking holiday.

Transport to and from your start and finish points Click on the “Travel Info” tab on your chosen walking holiday for our recommendations. Alternatively just get in touch with us directly and we’ll help you sort it all out.

Travel Insurance For your own peace of mind we’d recommend you make sure that you’ve got ample travel insurance before you set off on your holiday.

A good night’s sleep is critical on your walking holiday. We want you to wake refreshed and recharged ready for a new day, and selecting the right accommodation for you is our priority.

We have spent time and energy rigorously curating our collection of hotels, farmhouses, country houses, and coaching inns. When selecting accommodation our key focus is a helpful, friendly host with good quality accommodation and superb facilities. All of our accommodation has been carefully chosen so that you can unwind after a day’s walking and enjoy their unique architectural features, quirks, and interiors whilst also experiencing a superb level of comfort and service.

Some examples of the collection of accommodation we have curated for this route include:

Ellenborough Park
Restored in recent years to contemporary glory this hotel offers elegant rooms with marble bathrooms and underfloor heating. Breakfast, dinner or afternoon tea all use local Cotswold produce. If you feel you need some extra pampering there’s an Indian-influenced spa and heated swimming pool.

The Fish Hotel
The Fish Hotel has an idyllic parkland setting with contemporary country style rooms with a Scandinavian twist. Their designer-styled restaurant and bar offer a laid-back spot to enjoy your evening meal.

Dormy House
With a 17th Century farmhouse at its centre, the hotel combines history with contemporary farmhouse chic perched high above the village of Broadway, with stunning views across the Cotswolds. Cosy corners, log fires, beautiful rooms, and a spa complete the picture.

The Painswick
A handsome 18th Century Grade I mansion house in the unspoiled village of Painswick. Reached via narrow cobbled lanes and recently re-opened following a year-long makeover, The Painswick offers individually styled elegant rooms with striking prints and graphic artwork. The restaurant has a great reputation, and spa treatments are available.

Manor House Hotel
A 5 star luxury English country house hotel set in the heart of the 14th Century village of Castle Combe. The award-winning Bybrook restaurant combines the finest ingredients with produce from the hotel’s own garden. The rooms are individually styled, and the hotel sits in 365 acres of countryside.

General travel information for the Cotswold Way route will be in your holiday pack including train and bus timetables where available.

Detailed instructions on getting to your first night’s accommodation by car, or on foot from the nearest train or bus station, will also be included in the holiday pack on individual accommodation maps.

To view train times please visit national rail where you can also purchase tickets in advance. For information on bus timetables please visit traveline.

Getting There:By Air: The nearest International Airport is Birmingham (about 35 miles /56km away). Alternatives are London Heathrow or Gatwick.By Public Transport: The nearest Railway Station to Broadway is at Moreton-in-Marsh, which has regular through trains from London Paddington. You can also get to Moreton-in-Marsh by train from Birmingham, Bath and Bristol but will need to change at Oxford or Reading.
From Moreton-in-Marsh, there is a bus service to Broadway (Monday – Saturday) or you can get a taxi. It is 10 miles / 16km. Please note that there are no buses on Sundays.By Road: Broadway is just off the A44 which runs between Oxford and Worcester. It takes about 45 minutes by car to either Oxford or Worcester.

Returning from Painswick:By Public Transport: The nearest train station is at Stroud from where you can get trains to Swindon for London or Bath, or to Gloucester for Cheltenham and the North.
There are daily buses from Painswick to Stroud, Cheltenham, and Gloucester or you can take a short taxi ride to Stroud.

Winchcombe

Winchcombe is an attractive small town noted for its rose covered cottages. It has an interesting church which is decorated with forty five grotesque gargoyles - each representing a local character from the 1460s, and also houses an altar cloth worked by Catherine of Aragon. The Winchcombe Folk & Police Museum or the hands-on Winchcombe Railway Museum are both worth a visit, as is the nearby Sudeley Castle.

Painswick

Painswick is a delightful market town, and is perfectly located for a halfway break with its elegant white stone buildings. From here you can visit the Rococo Garden, designed in the 18th century and claimed to be the only one of its kind in England.

Treat yourself in indulgent hotel accommodation on all 6 nights of your holiday.

This Chipping Campden to Painswick walking holiday covers the northern section of the Cotswolds, walking 5 days on the western edge of the Cotswold hills with breathtaking views as the route travels through the beautiful hamlets of the Cotswolds.

Miles

Km

Day 1

Travel to Broadway for your first nights accommodation

Day 2

Transfer to Chipping Campden then walk to Stanton

10

16

Day 3

Stanton to Winchcombe

7

11

Day 4

Winchcombe to Dowdeswell

11

18

Day 5

Dowdeswell to Crickley Hill

8

13

Day 6

Crickley Hill to Painswick

11

18

Day 7

Depart from Painswick after breakfast

This itinerary shows where you will walk from and to each day. On several nights your accommodation will not be within walking distance of the trail and we will transfer you to your accommodation and back again the following morning.

Chipping Campden to Stanton

This Chipping Campden to Painswick walking holiday walk starts at the Town Hall in the centre of Chipping Campden, one of the most charming of all the picturesque settlements along the trail. The route climbs gradually up to Dover’s Hill (230m/755ft) with views over the Vale of Evesham before continuing on to Broadway Tower, the second highest point along the trail at 312m (1025ft). After dropping down into the delightful village of Broadway, the trail climbs back up to Shenberrow Hill before descending into the idyllic village of Stanton.

Stanton to Cleeve Hill

From Stanton the path leads across meadows to the hamlet of Church Stanway. The Chipping Campden to Painswick walking holiday route then begins its ascent back to the top of the escarpment at Stumps Cross from where it follows an ancient drove road for a while before reaching an Iron Age Hill Fort at Beckbury Camp. The path then descends to Winchcombe where the route skirts the edge of Cleeve Common – the highest point of the trail at 330m (1083ft). In bad weather, or for people with less time, a short-cut can be taken over the Common, cutting about 4 miles off the Chipping Campden to Painswick walking holiday route.

Cleeve Hill to Painswick

This section follows the western edge of the escarpment with fine views down to Cheltenham and across the Vale of Gloucester. From an Iron Age Hill Fort, the path drops down to Dowdeswell reservoir then follows the scarp to Severn Springs, Leckhampton Hill leading eventually to Crickley Hill. From Crickley Hill the Chipping Campden to Painswick walking holiday path traverses the combe through woods before arriving at Cooper’s Hill and more panoramic views. Further woodland walking above Prinknash Abbey brings you to Painswick Beacon. From here it’s a steady descent to the lovely old market town, completing your Chipping Campden to Painswick walking holiday.

Grade This is another relatively easy National Trail which is clearly way-marked along the length of the path. A good route for people wanting to do their first long-distance walk.

Terrain Varied - but these are gentle wolds and not mountainous areas. The path rises up and down onto the Cotswold Escarpment in the northern section, however, it is lower whilst still undulating over farmland and through woods towards the south.

What’s it like underfoot? Pretty good. Well maintained paths throughout, although sections can get a bit muddy in wet weather.

How much up and down? This trail is rolling and it does go up and down a lot, with some short steeper sections, but they don’t go on forever – the highest point is 330m (1083ft). Ascents and descents are usually 150 – 200m (495- 660ft)

Signposting Generally good.

Navigation Pretty straightforward. Well defined paths, and good signposting.

Every walking holiday includes:

Accommodation We’ll select your accommodation from a specially curated collection of hotels, farmhouses, country houses, and coaching inns along each of our routes. When selecting accommodation our focus is a helpful, friendly host with good quality accommodation and superb facilities. All of our accommodation has been carefully chosen so that you can unwind after a long day’s walking and enjoy unique architectural features, quirks and interiors, whilst also experiencing a superb level of comfort and service.

Breakfast To make sure that you put your best foot forward after a good night’s sleep you can get your day started with either a Full English breakfast or a Continental breakfast.

Luggage transfer We’ll also transfer your luggage between each overnight stop. All you need to do is leave your bag at your accommodation when you set off in the morning, and it will be moved to your next overnight stop for when you arrive later that day. All you’ll need is a small day sack with any clothes and provisions that you’ll need during your day’s walk

Personal itinerary An itinerary setting out the relevant information for each overnight stop, including large scale maps for each location and details of where we’d recommend you head for your evening meal.

Emergency support We are always on hand to help if you experience any difficulties during your holiday, including outside of normal office hours.

15% discount at Cotswold Outdoors As a little thank you from us you will get a 15% discount at all Cotswold Outdoor stores – online and high street – for twelve months following confirmation of your booking.

Options:

Off road parking If you are travelling to your start location by car just let us know and we will see what we can do to organise parking for the duration of your trip. There may be a small charge for this.

Return transport We can also arrange transfer back to your car – it’s no problem, just ask – and we’ll even advise you when public transport is a better option!

What’s not Included:

Evening meal Your evening meal isn’t included in your walking holiday package, however your itinerary will include details of the best local eateries along your route – it could be a pub, a restaurant or even the accommodation that you’re staying in – so you’ll be able to relax and refuel after a good day’s walking. We always do our best to pick somewhere within walking distance of your accommodation, and you should allow approximately £20.00 per night for your evening meal.

Packed lunch We don’t include a packed lunch as part of your walking holiday.

Transport to and from your start and finish points Click on the “Travel Info” tab on your chosen walking holiday for our recommendations. Alternatively just get in touch with us directly and we’ll help you sort it all out.

Travel Insurance For your own peace of mind we’d recommend you make sure that you’ve got ample travel insurance before you set off on your holiday.

A good night’s sleep is critical on your walking holiday. We want you to wake refreshed and recharged ready for a new day, and selecting the right accommodation for you is our priority.

We have spent time and energy rigorously curating our collection of hotels, farmhouses, country houses, and coaching inns. When selecting accommodation our key focus is a helpful, friendly host with good quality accommodation and superb facilities. All of our accommodation has been carefully chosen so that you can unwind after a day’s walking and enjoy their unique architectural features, quirks, and interiors whilst also experiencing a superb level of comfort and service.

Some examples of the collection of accommodation we have curated for this route include:

Ellenborough Park
Restored in recent years to contemporary glory this hotel offers elegant rooms with marble bathrooms and underfloor heating. Breakfast, dinner or afternoon tea all use local Cotswold produce. If you feel you need some extra pampering there’s an Indian-influenced spa and heated swimming pool.

The Fish Hotel
The Fish Hotel has an idyllic parkland setting with contemporary country style rooms with a Scandinavian twist. Their designer-styled restaurant and bar offer a laid-back spot to enjoy your evening meal.

Dormy House
With a 17th Century farmhouse at its centre, the hotel combines history with contemporary farmhouse chic perched high above the village of Broadway, with stunning views across the Cotswolds. Cosy corners, log fires, beautiful rooms, and a spa complete the picture.

The Painswick
A handsome 18th Century Grade I mansion house in the unspoiled village of Painswick. Reached via narrow cobbled lanes and recently re-opened following a year-long makeover, The Painswick offers individually styled elegant rooms with striking prints and graphic artwork. The restaurant has a great reputation, and spa treatments are available.

Manor House Hotel
A 5 star luxury English country house hotel set in the heart of the 14th Century village of Castle Combe. The award-winning Bybrook restaurant combines the finest ingredients with produce from the hotel’s own garden. The rooms are individually styled, and the hotel sits in 365 acres of countryside.

General travel information for the Cotswold Way route will be in your holiday pack including train and bus timetables where available.

Detailed instructions on getting to your first night’s accommodation by car, or on foot from the nearest train or bus station, will also be included in the holiday pack on individual accommodation maps.

To view train times please visit national rail where you can also purchase tickets in advance. For information on bus timetables please visit traveline.

Getting There:By Air: The nearest International Airport is Birmingham (about 35 miles /56km away). Alternatives are London Heathrow or Gatwick.By Public Transport: The nearest Railway Station to Broadway is at Moreton-in-Marsh, which has regular through trains from London Paddington. You can also get to Moreton-in-Marsh by train from Birmingham, Bath and Bristol but will need to change at Oxford or Reading.
From Moreton-in-Marsh, there is a bus service to Broadway (Monday – Saturday) or you can get a taxi. It is 10 miles / 16km. Please note that there are no buses on Sundays.By Road: Broadway is just off the A44 which runs between Oxford and Worcester. It takes about 45 minutes by car to either Oxford or Worcester.

Returning from Painswick:By Public Transport: The nearest train station is at Stroud from where you can get trains to Swindon for London or Bath, or to Gloucester for Cheltenham and the North.
There are daily buses from Painswick to Stroud, Cheltenham, and Gloucester or you can take a short taxi ride to Stroud.

Winchcombe

Winchcombe is an attractive small town noted for its rose covered cottages. It has an interesting church which is decorated with forty five grotesque gargoyles - each representing a local character from the 1460s, and also houses an altar cloth worked by Catherine of Aragon. The Winchcombe Folk & Police Museum or the hands-on Winchcombe Railway Museum are both worth a visit, as is the nearby Sudeley Castle.

Painswick

Painswick is a delightful market town, and is perfectly located for a halfway break with its elegant white stone buildings. From here you can visit the Rococo Garden, designed in the 18th century and claimed to be the only one of its kind in England.